Rob Gronkowski responds to Jalen Ramsey's trash-talk: 'It’s a big game this Sunday'

FOXBORO -- After not addressing it last week, Rob Gronkowski responded to Jalen Ramsey's comments Wednesday during his weekly press conference.

In an interview with ESPN a few weeks ago, Ramsey said Gronkowski isn't as good as people think he is.

"I mean, if that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels," Gronkowski said. "It’s a big game this Sunday, we’re playing them. I’m sure I’m going to have opportunities to go versus him. I’m sure he’s going to have opportunities to go versus me. I’m just preparing like I always prepare. I’ve got to just do my job out on the field, just worry about that."

The tight end acknowledged a little trash-talk can motivate him.

"For sure," he said. "There’s always motivation you’re looking for. It does and it doesn’t. So, that’s tricky right there – doesn’t give you the answer you’re looking for. That was a trick question – you were trying to get me to say something, right? But, it does and it doesn’t, you know what I mean? Because it motivates you to hear that. Obviously, there’s something out there that he saw on film and stuff that I can probably get better at football in some certain categories. You don’t always feel the best every single day when you’re out on the field, so if that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels."

Given the magnitude of the game -- a rematch of the AFC title game -- there likely will be a lot of emotions on both sides and Gronkowski noted how important it is to keep cool to avoid a penalty.

"There can always be talking going back and forth, tempers getting heated up and everything," he said. "You just got to keep your cool, and I don’t see any benefit to getting a 15-yard penalty out on the field because you lose your cool. So, you’ve just got to keep your cool and keep your head on straight."

Earlier in the day Bill Belichick noted the Jaguars generally have Ramsey on the opponents' best player -- we can only hope he's on Gronkowski this week.